Team

Willie Desjardins

Head Coach, Vancouver Canucks

Willie Desjardins became the 18th Head Coach in Vancouver Canucks history on June 23, 2014. Desjardins joined the Canucks organization from the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League, where he led the Stars to a Calder Cup Championship in 2014.

Desjardins served as Head Coach of the Texas Stars for two seasons compiling a 91-40-21 (.667) regular season record in 152 AHL games. He was awarded the Louis A. R. Pieri Award as the AHL’s Coach of the Year in 2013, his first season with Texas. Desjardin’s second season with Texas produced a regular season record of 48-18-10 (.697) and a 15-6 playoff record culminating in the Stars’ first Calder Cup Championship. Desjardins began his four year tenure with the Stars organization as an Associate Coach with Dallas before serving as Head Coach of their AHL affiliate.

From 2002 to 2010 Desjardins was Head Coach of the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL adding the role of General Manager in 2005. Desjardins twice led the Tigers to Western Hockey League championships winning the President’s Cup in the 2003.04 and 2006.07 seasons. In two Memorial Cup berths Desjardins’ Tigers advanced to the Finals once in 2007. Desjardins was awarded the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s Coach of the Year for the 2005–06 season. He was also honoured by the Canadian Hockey League and presented with the Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award that same season. Desjardins first WHL Head Coaching role was with the Saskatoon Blades in the 1997.98 season.

Internationally, Desjardins has represented Canada as Head Coach in 2010 (silver) and Assistant Coach in 2009 (gold) at the World Junior Championships. He was Assistant Coach for the Canadian national men’s team when Canada finished fourth at the at the 1999 IIHF World Championship in Norway.

Desjardins played major junior hockey for the Lethbridge Broncos of the Western Hockey League from 1974 through 1977. He won the 1982-83 Major W.J. “Danny” McLeod Award as the University Cup Tournament MVP, selected by members of the CIS Men’s Hockey Coaches Association.